MANCHESTER UNITED have given Atletico Madrid a guarantee they WILL make a bid for keeper David de Gea if the club decides to sell him this summer.

United have stepped up their search for Edwin van der Sar’s successor after the Dutchman finally confirmed last week he would retire at the end of this season.

And Old Trafford big-wigs have contacted their Atletico counterparts to firm up their interest in the highly-rated 20-year-old.

United, whose shortlist includes Holland No.1 Maarten Stekelenburg and Germany keeper Manuel Neuer, will have first call on de Gea, under contract until 2013, if the Spaniards decide to let him go.

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